he 326th Engineers were constituted in the National Army on 23 July 1918 as an element of the 101st Division. The unit was demobilized on 11 December 1918. It was reconstituted on 24 June 1921 as the 326th Engineers (Combat), an element of the 101st Division, in the Organized Reserves and organized in November 1921 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Regiment was divided on 31 March 1942. All Regimental units (less the 2d
Battalion) were allotted to the Army of the United States on 15 August 1942. At that time they were redesignated as the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion (AEB), and were activated at Camp Clairborne, Louisiana. The battalion moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with the 101st Airborne Division, on 29 Sep 1942. The battalion participated in all division exercises and maneuvers.

After extensive training in the United States, the 326th AEB deployed to England on 5 Sep 1943, from Pier 90, North River, New York. The Ship 294 (HMS Samaria) landed at Liverpool, England, and the battalion moved by train to Basildon Park, near Reading, Berkshire. Under the command of Lt Col John Pappas, the Battalion's training focused on physical conditioning (including long and short marches), firing of weapons, glider loading, glider flights, unit and division tactical exercises.

The 326th AEB participated in the airborne assault into Normandy where Lt Col John Pappas (picture left) was killed in action on 13 June 1944. Major Hugh A Mozley assumed command and led the battalion during Operation Market Garden and the Screaming Eagles heroic stand at Bastogne. For its outstanding accomplishments at Normandy and Bastogne, the Battalion was twice awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. For its contribution to the success of the European War, the Battalion was awarded the French Croix de Guerre (with Palm), the Netherlands Orange Lanyard, and the Belgian Fourragere. The 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion was deactivated in Germany on 30 November 1945.